I. THE ROBIN. 17 



But the difference in our motive of examina- 

 tion will entirely alter the result. To paint 

 birds -that we may sliow how minutely we can 

 paint,.'is among the most contemptible occupa- 

 tions of art. To paint them, that we may show 

 how beautiful they are, is not indeed one of its 

 highest, but quite one of its pleasantest and 

 most useful ; it is a skill within the reach of 

 every student of average capacity, and which, 

 so faj as acquired, will assuredly both make 

 their hearts kinder, and their lives happier. 



Without further preamble, I will ask you to 

 look to-day, more carefully than usual, at your 

 well-known favourite, and to think about him 

 with some precision. 



16. And first. Where does he come from ? 

 I stated that my lectures were to be on 

 English and Greek birds ; but we are apt to 

 fancy the robin all our own. How exclu- 

 sively, do you suppose, he really belongs 

 to us ? You would think this was the first 

 point to be settled in any book about him. I 

 have hunted all my books through, and can't 

 tell you how much he is our own, or how far 

 he is a traveller. 



And, indeed, are not all our ideas obscure 



B 



